The safety of passengers and crew on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services on the Kuttiyadi pass has come under scrutiny amid frequent incidents of overcrowding. Passengers on the route complain that the limited number of private bus services, insufficient KSRTC services and the increasing number of passengers on rural routes continue to result in overcrowding, compromising passenger safety. They have also demanded more KSRTC services on the route to ease overcrowding.

A recent incident involving an overloaded ‘Priyadarshini’ bus on the Kuttiyadi ghat, in which a major accident was narrowly averted following a mechanical failure, has once again exposed the dangers of allowing buses to operate beyond their permitted capacity.

According to the police, the bus, with a seating capacity of only 54 passengers, was carrying more than 100 passengers when its air brake pipe and connecting joint failed while travelling through the ghat on July 22. The incident occurred near the eighth hairpin bend, where the bus, which had started its journey from Thottilpalam to Mananthavady, began rolling backwards after the mechanical failure. The driver managed to steer the vehicle into the roadside retaining wall, bringing it to a stop and averting a major tragedy.

“The overcrowding occurred after another KSRTC bus on the same route broke down at Poothampara. Although the bus crew warned them against boarding, passengers from the stranded bus boarded the vehicle, pushing the total number of passengers far beyond the permitted limit,” said a resident who reached the spot to assist with the rescue. He added that similar incidents were common on the route.

KSRTC sources said they had repeatedly requested passengers to avoid overcrowding and allow some commuters to get down. However, the passengers refused to cooperate, leaving the driver and conductor with the difficult task of managing an overloaded bus on a dangerous hill route, they added.

KSRTC employees operating in the region said the increasing number of passengers and insufficient services have made overcrowding a frequent issue, particularly during peak hours and holidays. They said the limited number of private bus services on the route has added to the pressure on KSRTC buses and reiterated the need for more KSRTC services to meet the growing demand. Drivers and conductors often find it difficult to enforce safety restrictions in such situations, they said.

Frequent travellers on the Thamarassery and Kuttiyadi ghat roads have demanded a screening mechanism to prevent overcrowded and unsafe journeys on mountain roads with sharp bends and steep gradients.

A KSRTC driver said some passengers were under the misconception that KSRTC buses operating on mountain routes could safely carry any number of passengers.

Published - July 29, 2026 07:10 pm IST